Paracetamol Versus Ondansetron for Prevention of Postoperative Shivering in Liposuction Surgeries Under Combined General Epidural Anaesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Postoperative shivering (POS) is considered one of the most common complications that is encountered by the anaesthetists worldwide. Despite using several treatment options, there has not been a clear consensus regarding this issue. This trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of paracetamol and ondansetron in preventing POS in patients undergoing liposuction procedures under combined general epidural anaesthesia. Methods: One hundred twenty patients scheduled for liposuction were randomly allocated to one of three groups: group P (paracetamol group) which received 1 g paracetamol intravenously, group O (ondansetron group) which received 8 mg of ondansetron intravenously, and group S (saline group), which received 100 mL normal saline intravenously; all medications were given postoperatively. The primary outcome was the incidence of POS, and the secondary outcomes included shivering score, tympanic temperature, and the occurrence of side effects. Results: The incidence of occurrence of POS was found to be lower in groups P and O compared to group S with values of 25% and 37.50% vs. 77.50%, respectively, with a P value <0.001. Additionally, the severity of POS was found to be lower in groups P and O compared to group S (P <0.001). Tympanic temperature and complications were comparable between the groups with no significant differences. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of paracetamol or ondansetron at the end of the procedure was shown to be of great value in reducing the incidence and severity of POS, with no statistically significant difference between the paracetamol and ondansetron groups. Moreover, no significant drawbacks were reported as a result of using these medications.

Effects of Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion on Alleviating the Opioid Burden for Patients Undergoing Myomectomy Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Recent research has focused on the use of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for pain management. Several drugs are known to have this action, including ketamine, which exerts its main analgesic effect through NMDA receptor antagonism. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-dose ketamine infusion on opioid exposure for patients undergoing myomectomy surgery under general anaesthesia. METHODS: A total of 70 women were included in this prospective double-blind trial study. The patients included in this study were American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I-II, aged between 18 and 50 years and scheduled for laparotomy myomectomy surgery. Patients were randomised to receive either a bolus of 0.2 mg kg-1 of ketamine followed by a continuous infusion of 0.2 mg kg-1 hr-1 during the operation or a placebo of normal saline. Both groups also received morphine as needed for pain relief. The primary outcome was the total amount of morphine used during the intraoperative and postoperative periods. Intraoperative and postoperative mean blood pressure, heart rate and postoperative visual analogue scale for pain were assessed. RESULTS: Total mean morphine consumption was significantly lower in the ketamine group than in the control group (26±3.5 mg vs. 34.7±3.3 mg, respectively, p<0.05). However, there were no statistical differences between the groups regarding haemodynamics, postoperative pain score and complications. CONCLUSION: The use of ketamine in low infusion doses intraoperatively during an elective myomectomy procedure produced an opioid-sparing effect by reducing perioperative morphine consumption without significant side effects.

Endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery in the lateral position: a comparison between the intubating video stylet and fiberoptic intubating bronchoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Some situations compel anesthetists to execute endotracheal intubation in the lateral position. We compared elective endotracheal intubation in the lateral decubitus position using the video stylet (VS) device with the fiberoptic (FO) bronchoscope device in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: Overall, 50 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. They were randomly classified into the VS intubation or FO intubating bronchoscope group. After anesthesia induction, patients were placed in the lateral decubitus position, and a single investigator well-versed with the use of the VS and FO bronchoscope performed the intubation. The primary outcome was the time taken for intubation. Secondary outcomes included the intubation success rate, hemodynamic response at specific time points and perioperative complications. RESULTS: The average time taken for intubation was significantly lesser in the VS group than in the FO group, with values of 39.5 ± 10.0 and 75.6 ± 16.2 s, respectively (P < 0.001). Incidences of a successful first attempt of intubation in the VS and FO groups were 88% and 100%, respectively, showing no significant difference. There was a negligible difference in complications between the groups, except sore throat, which showed a higher incidence in the VS group than in the FO group (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In laterally positioned patients, elective endotracheal intubation with VS provides less intubation time; however, its use is accompanied by a significant increase in the hemodynamic response after intubation and an increased incidence of sore throat.

Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion Versus Morphine Infusion During Abdominoplasty to Change the Postoperative Pain Profile.

BACKGROUND: With the increased number of abdominoplasty all over the world, and the need to manage postoperative pain, it is a must to find proper and effective drugs to decrease opioid consumption in the postoperative period. OBJECTIVES: In this double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, we assumed that low-dose ketamine infusion will reduce the postoperative pain profile than the conventional method of morphine. METHODS: The scheduled patients for abdominoplasty under general anesthesia were recruited in two groups: group (K) with low-dose ketamine infusion intra-operatively (80 patients) and group (M) with morphine infusion intra-operatively (80 patients). Both groups were monitored intraoperatively and postoperatively for rescue doses of fentanyl, visual analogue scale (VAS), and side effects. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between both groups regarding the fentanyl rescue doses intra- and postoperative with no remarkable side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose ketamine has a useful analgesic effect in abdominoplasty similar to morphine without remarkable side effects, such as sedation or hallucinations.

Epidural levobupivacaine versus a combination of levobupivacaine and dexamethasone in patients receiving epidural analgesia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to local anesthetic rarely has been described. Some studies have demonstrated the analgesic effect of local spinal and systemic corticosteroids in combination with bupivacaine. It works by decreasing inflammation and blocking transmission of nociceptive C-fibers and by stopping the ectopic discharge of the nerve. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the efficacy of epidural levobupivacaine alone versus a combination of levobupivacaine with dexamethasone for labor analgesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective double-blind trial included the 60 primigravidas during vaginal delivery with a cervical dilatation ≥4 cm and 50% effacement randomly assigned to one of two groups - Group A (n=30): epidural levobupivacaine 0.125% in normal saline in a total volume of 15 mL and Group B (n=30): epidural levobupivacaine 0.125% in normal saline combined with dexamethasone 4 mg in a total volume of 15 mL. At first request of analgesia, 10 mL of 0.125% levobupivacaine was administrated through epidural catheter. Further analgesia was provided with 8 mL of 0.125% levobupivacaine hourly. Primary outcome measure was the duration of epidural analgesia. Secondary outcome measures include pain score by Visual Analog Scale score before the block and 15 min following it, the total amount of levobupivacaine used, Apgar score and umbilical vein blood gas analysis, maternal satisfaction, and side effects recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The duration of epidural analgesia was significantly longer (P < 0.05) upon adding dexamethasone to levobupivacaine. Total epidural levobupivacaine consumption was significantly lower (P = 0.05) in Group B. There were no statistical differences between the two groups regarding hemodynamics, pain score, neonatal outcome, and complications. Epidural dexamethasone plus levobupivacaine prolongs the duration of epidural analgesia during management of labor pain with hemodynamic stability and limited maternal and neonatal adverse effects.

The effect of addition of dexamethasone to levobupivacaine in parturients receiving combined spinal-epidural for analgesia for vaginal delivery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Regional analgesia is commonly used for the relief of labour pain, Prolongation of analgesia can be achieved by adjuvant medications. The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of intrathecal levobupivacaine with dexamethasone for labour analgesia. METHODS: A total of 80 females were included in this study, all were primigravidas undergoing vaginal delivery with cervical dilatation ≥4 cm and 50% or more effacement. Forty females were included randomly in either Group L (received intrathecal levobupivacaine 0.25% in 2 mL) or Group LD (received intrathecal levobupivacaine 0.25% combined with dexamethasone 4 mg in 2 mL). The primary outcome was the duration of spinal analgesia. Secondary outcomes included the total dose of epidural local anaesthetic given, time to delivery, neonatal outcome and adverse effects. RESULTS: The duration of spinal analgesia was significantly longer in the LD group compared with L group (80.5 ± 12.4 min vs. 57.1 ± 11.5 min, respectively; P < 0.001). In Group LD compared with Group L, time from spinal analgesia to delivery was significantly lower (317.4 ± 98.9 min vs. 372.4 ± 118.8 min, respectively; P = 0.027), and total epidural levobupivacaine consumption was significantly lower (102.4 ± 34.8 mg vs. 120.1 ± 41.9 mg, respectively; P = 0.027). The two groups were comparable with respect to characteristics of sensory and motor block, haemodynamic parameters, pain scores, neonatal outcome and frequency of adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal dexamethasone plus levobupivacaine prolongs the duration of spinal analgesia during combined spinal-epidural CSE for labour analgesia.